"What did you and Fang Baiyan say to each other? Why did you let Luo Bin go? That man has many lives on his hands!"
As soon as they got into the car and started it, Shang Wushuang asked.
"Should I have handed him over to the police?" Chen Fan said casually, "A martial arts master like him, who might break out of prison and kill people, is hard for few to subdue. Handing him over to the police would only cause them trouble."
Shang Wushuang also scratched his head and dropped the matter. "What is the feud between Luo Bin and Fang Baiyan that made him carry a coffin to cause trouble on his birthday?"
Chen Fan said, "Naturally, he was invited by Fang Baiyan's enemies. His rival has considerable power. After what happened today, you should be careful when you are with me."
He thought for a moment and decided to remind Shang Wushuang.
Shang Wushuang was startled, then smiled. "Then I rather hope someone causes trouble for me. That way, it won't be too boring in the capital."
Chen Fan was a little speechless but didn't say more.
He wouldn't tell Shang Wushuang much about the Northern Brotherhood.
Of course, with Shang Wushuang's family background and connections, he would find out some things soon enough.
It was unlikely that the Brotherhood would dare to attack Shang Wushuang, as his father was a martial arts grandmaster.
When a martial arts grandmaster was angered, any force would have to think twice.
"You're still as inconvenient as ever!"
After dropping Chen Fan off at the Longteng branch, Shang Wushuang said with dissatisfaction, "Your purpose in going to the Fang family was to investigate the force that dealt with you at the checkpoint, wasn't it? Yet you're still keeping things from me. Do you think I'm a spy for the enemy?"
Chen Fan chuckled and opened the car door. "Knowing too much won't do you any good."
"Who cares?"
Giving him a roll of her eyes, Shang Wushuang said, "I took you to the Fang family, which counts as helping you. Aren't you going to say thank you?"
"Thank you!"
Chen Fan replied.
Shang Wushuang shook his head and drove away.
Chen Fan, however, got into the Lamborghini he had driven himself and then drove directly away from the Longteng branch to the base of the Dawn team.
Upon arriving at the base, they immediately convened a meeting.
Chen Fan first inquired about the progress of the tasks he had assigned earlier.
"Zhang Shaoyu's information has been thoroughly investigated!"
Xiang Jing Shu's team had acted quickly and reported to Chen Fan, "This person comes from a good family with considerable influence. Both his parents were officials with real power, and he has good connections in government circles."
"As for himself, he is a businessman, not involved in any specific industry, but he dabbles in many. He primarily acts as an intermediary, meaning he's a broker!"
"It is said that this person has significant influence. He can accomplish things that many people cannot, and resolve relationships that are stuck!"
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.
That person was essentially the same type as Yu Fuguo, but likely held a much higher position.
However, this person was probably not a core member of the Northern Brotherhood, but he should have access to the core.
Chen Fan's original intention was to use bait to contact this person and then infiltrate the higher levels of the Brotherhood.
But now, after the incident at the Fang family, it was uncertain whether the other party would still take the bait.
After all, Chen Fan had initially used the identity of Chen Zhuo at the Fang family's place.
This would naturally lead the Brotherhood to associate two identical names.
That left only the option of directly capturing and interrogating them.
"What about the Yun Jian Club?" Chen Fan asked.
"The owner of the Yun Jian Club is named Liao Xiwen. This person's information is very ordinary, and he's likely just a figurehead," Xiang Jing Shu said. "The true mastermind is well hidden, and we haven't found them yet."
"Furthermore, the club's membership roster and staff structure are kept confidential from the public, making it difficult to investigate without alerting them."
"The simplest and most direct way would be to take down this club!"
Chen Fan shook his head.
It was uncertain how much they would gain by taking down the club now, but it would definitely alert them.
Of course, alerting them was a matter of time anyway.
"Contact Han Wei and ask her to think of a way!" Chen Fan said.
He had already called Jun Ruo Wang yesterday. The other party had agreed to Han Wei taking the lead in forming a working group to cooperate with the Dawn team. The plan was already in motion.
"Yes!"
Xiang Jing Shu replied solemnly.
In both public and private matters, Xiang Jing Shu was very clear-headed.
Chen Fan then gave a general account of the Fang family incident.
After that, he assigned various tasks, instructing Xiang Jing Shu to lead the members and mobilize various resources to investigate some of the people and events mentioned in the intelligence obtained from Fang Baiyan.
For example, the mystery of the Four Seas Gang's demise ten years ago, and the matter of the Fang Baiyan's student's parent being imprisoned.
These were all necessary investigations. Even if the traces were wiped clean, as long as some clues could be found, there would be gains.
The more clues and intelligence they obtained, the clearer the organization known as the Northern Brotherhood would become.
When the identity of the Brotherhood's leader and main members was determined, it would be time for Chen Fan to cast his net and round them all up.
They had made significant gains in the past few days, and that day should not be too far off.
As the team members were all busy, Chen Fan chatted with Chen Xiao Zhu, then left the base. He was too lazy to return to the Longteng branch and went straight home.
Not long after he got home, he received another call from Yu Fuguo.
It seemed that the incident at the Fang family had not affected Yu Fuguo's side?
Or perhaps he hadn't received the news yet?
After answering the phone and exchanging pleasantries, Yu Fuguo invited him to the equestrian club the next day.
Chen Fan politely declined. "Old Yu, it's not that I don't want to go, but I'm really too busy right now."
Yu Fuguo's tone became delighted. "What is Brother Chen busy with? If you need anything, just say the word. I will do my utmost to help if I can."
"Ah, it's about the ten billion in funds from headquarters that I mentioned to you last time. I need to spend it quickly to generate profits for headquarters, right?"
"Although my uncle is here, and no one would blame me if this ten billion was lost, if I handle things well, it will show my value, won't it?"
"Yes, yes, Brother Chen, you're absolutely right." Yu Fuguo agreed. "Speaking of investment, I actually have some very good avenues. They are absolutely safe, and the returns are absolutely reliable."
"Oh really?" Chen Fan's tone was not very trusting, and he said jokingly, "If it were just ordinary small projects, people wanting to see me would never finish even in ten days and ten nights."
"What I want to do are big projects, projects with bright futures and long-term returns, with an annual return rate of at least thirty percent, and a five-year return rate of over two hundred percent."
"Ten billion is not enough, then twenty or thirty billion is also not a problem!"
A sound of gasping for breath came from the other end.
He was just the owner of a small investment company dealing in mortgages and usury. Ten billion had already made him's heart pound, and Chen Fan had casually thrown out the bait of twenty or thirty billion.
He might be a member of the Northern Brotherhood, but he was only an outer-ring member. The Brotherhood gave him operating funds, but it was only a few hundred thousand or a million, how could he compare with billions?
Even a tiny fraction of Chen Fan's investment would be enough for him to live comfortably for a lifetime.
"Such good projects are indeed a bit hard to find. They are all in the hands of large companies and well-known enterprises!"
Yu Fuguo was silent for a moment and said, "But they are not non-existent. I will inquire for you right away. Wait for my news!"
"Alright."
Chen Fan remained nonchalant.
Yu Fuguo, however, was not sure how excited he was. After a few pleasantries, he hung up the phone.
Chen Fan threw his phone on the sofa and started laughing.
All the bait had been cast. He believed it would be enough to catch a big fish.